Some of the best student leaders are… the ones who choose to come back!

Their worth is impossible to quantify… because there’s so much they bring with them.

Consider the impact of even a handful of student leaders — who, having spent a year or more working alongside of us — opt to return and invest in the following year’s ministry efforts with:

A working knowledge of our mission and ministry — When students are able to articulate to others who we are, and what we’re about, it changes things! They can become the champions of our efforts and the embodiment of our mission. They become educated and passionate extensions of us — and the ministry — and multiply the reach of our work exponentially.

A growing relationship with us — This is another major bonus! Starting new relationships take time — and of course, are totally worth it — but when we’ve got some history with a student it’s amazing how a second year of working together can really solidify a relationship that began the year before. And working within a transient environment (like college ministry) when a student decides to commit (or recommit) to our ministry… it is often a sign that they are also wanting to see our relationship go to new levels as well. What a great opportunity (for us) and gift (to our ministry).

The ability to take on more responsibility and ownership within the ministry — Knowing “the ropes,” returning student leaders will likely welcome the challenges that can come through taking on new levels of responsibility. Likewise, when students are investing more  in the ministry they tend to feel a greater sense of ownership — which often strengthens their commitments and resolve to see our work be successful. This can also free us up to consider new ministry initiatives.

The ability to teach and train incoming leaders — Returning student leaders make for some of the best teachers and trainers when it comes to investing in new student leadership. They’ve been there! They know (most of) what concerns the new group of leaders — some of the “nuts and bolts” of being a leader, as well as some of the weight that comes with being a spiritual leader on campus while trying to manage a class load (and possibly a work load on top of that). We need to make space for returning leaders to share their collective wisdom with their new counterparts — for this is an invaluable resource.

A comfort and confidence with how things are done — It’s amazing what a year of experience can do for a student leader. Their overall comfort and confidence within the workings of our ministry, as well as their own ability to lead, jumps greatly from year one to two. To have students like this in our ministry must be a goal to strive towards!

A greater willingness to provide constructive criticism — And while this one might make us wince a little bit… we need this. Students might not have the same degrees or years of experience that we possess… but they are students — who know us, our ministry and other students. They live, eat,  go to class, and socialize  with the students that we are trying to reach. They know their own — better than we could ever hope to without them. They can likely see the holes in our ministry — both small and large — and we need to be willing to hear from them about how we can better do what we’ve been called to do. If this is something we fear… then we need to be willing to explore exactly what that is.

The kind of impact that returning student leaders can have on our ministry is tremendous!

And now is the time to begin talking with them about “sticking around” next year.

Now is the time (if you haven’t already) to let them know just how much they have meant to you and the collective ministry effort on campus.

Now is the time to encourage them to consider returning to invest in the ongoing  ministry efforts — in some new and more substantial ways.

How have you seen (or felt) the impact of returning student leaders within your ministry?

How do you help/encourage/challenge students to see the benefits (for them and for the ministry) in them choosing to return for another year on the leadership team?

Take a moment to share your thoughts in the comment section below.